Family - Loyalty - Respect. These 3 words is the credo of Sergio Penha's Brazilian Jiu Jitsu academy and is a perfect description of what you'll experience here. My review is from the perspective of someone with no combat sport experience, who was curious but always somewhat intimidated to check out Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.
Sergio, his instructors and students are all very friendly, welcoming and very tough! I've seen many of his students at all levels roll/spar and everything is at a high level of skill and energy. BJJ is full contact and I'm constantly out of my comfort zone but I'm in a controlled environment with some great BJJ practitioners who help me get better. I get pushed to my physical capabilities and every class ends with a feeling of accomplishment. It's very addicting in many ways as you become stronger physically and mentally while learning BJJ.
Sergio is an amazing teacher with decades of BJJ experience as one of only 21 8th degree Black Belts in the world. He breaks down Jiu Jitsu in a way someone with no experience (like myself) can pick up. Every move is with purpose and it's explained to you clearly how and WHY we're performing the moves as we learn and perform them. Additionally, every single person I've been paired up with takes his same approach teaching others. Everyone is there to get better and make others better as well.
I've just started my Brazilian Jiu Jitsu journey and I'm very fortunate to come across Sergio's. Sergio is so personable, friendly and his leadership trickles down to his students throughout the academy. There's a great positive vibe and everyone there is ready to put in work and push each other. Whether you're the greenest beginner like myself, or someone who's been practicing BJJ for many years, you'll feel right at home at Sergio Penha's. Enjoy...! =)